Autism is the central condition in the group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum
Disorders (ASD) or Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC). They have also been called social
and communication disorders or Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD).

For simplicity, we will use the term ASD. They are neurodevelopmental disorders which
means they are caused by abnormalities in the way the brain develops and works.

ASD affect approximately 1 in 100 children and young people.

Children and young people with ASD have particular difficulties:

In communicating

Being around people socially

With their behaviour

Individuals with an ASD can have a range of intellectual ability from having severe
learning disabilities, to being more academically able and in mainstream education.
About 10% of people with autism may also have some special skills and abilities.

For a diagnosis of autism, there must be evidence of unusual development in the first
3 years of life. ‘Asperger's syndrome’ is a term used for some higher functioning
people on the autism spectrum who have intellectual ability in the average range
and no delays in learning to talk. Many often have intense interests such as train
timetables, buses or dinosaurs.

What are the characteristics?

The characteristics of children and young people with ASD will vary depending upon
their age, developmental level and how severely they are affected.

The difficulties are also likely to change over time. Parents are usually (but not
always) the first to have some concerns about their child’s development, and difficulties
may be noticed from as early as infancy.

Overall, the problems and behaviours can be divided into three main areas:

Difficulties with communication

Children and young people with ASD have difficulties with both verbal communication
(speaking) and non-verbal communication (eye contact, expressions and gestures).
Some children may not be able to talk at all or have very limited speech.

Some have good speech and language skills, but still have difficulty using their
speech socially or to sustain a conversation. Their use of language may be very formal
or 'adult-like'. They may talk at length about their own topics of interest, but
find it hard to understand the back and forth nature of two-way conversations.

Difficulties with social interaction

Children and young people with ASD have difficulty understanding the 'social world',
for example, they often have difficulty recognising and understanding their feelings
and those of people around them. This in turn can make it difficult for them to make
friends. They may prefer to spend time alone, or appear insensitive to others because
of their difficulties understanding social rules and expectations. Others may want
to make friends but have difficulties understanding someone else’s point of view.

Difficulties with behaviour, interests and activities

Children and young people with ASD often prefer familiar routines (e.g. taking the
same route to school every day, putting their clothes on in a particular order),
and tend to have difficulties dealing with change, which they find difficult and
distressing.

They may also have unusual intense and specific interests, such as in electronic
gadgets or lists of dates. They might use toys more like 'objects' to line up, for
example. They may have unusual responses to particular experiences from their environment
such as tastes, smells, sounds and textures. For example, they could be very sensitive
to the sound of a hair dryer, or the feel of certain materials against their skin.

Some children show unusual repetitive movements such as hand or finger flapping or
twisting, or complicated whole body movements.

What are the causes?

The exact cause of ASD is still unknown, although research shows that a combination
of genetic and environmental factors may account for changes in brain development.
There is an increased risk of ASD and other developmental difficulties in the brothers
and sisters of children with ASD.

Where can I get help?

If you are worried about your child’s development or their school or nursery has
contacted you about their worries, the first step is to speak to your GP or health
visitor who will advise you and make a referral if necessary to the local ASD diagnostic
team at the Child Development Team or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
(CAMHS).

Making the correct diagnosis requires a detailed discussion about your child’s early
development, medical and psychological assessment, and a comprehensive assessment
of your child's social and communication skills and intellectual abilities. Some
of this will be done by watching your child in different settings e.g. school. There
is no single test (e.g. blood test or brain scan) for ASD. However, several different
tests may be carried out to exclude other conditions (e.g. hearing tests and blood
tests).

Learning difficulties

Children with ASD can have general or specific learning disabilities which may range
from mild to severe. Like all children, they will have their own strengths and difficulties,
both with their learning and their abilities.

What can be done to help?

There are no known cures for ASD, but children and families can be helped in many
ways. Help includes:

Being given information about the condition

Managing behavioural difficulties

Developing social communication and emotional skills

Medication in some cases

There are various approaches available to help with communication and learning and
for children with ASD, it is often better to get help as early as possible.

Usually, there will be several people involved in the care of a child with ASD, such
as a speech and language therapist, psychologist, occupational therapist and a medical
doctor (paediatrician or child psychiatrist).

There might also be specialist courses on parenting, parent support groups, advice
on how to help the wider family and more general advice about benefits, for example,
from local child health services and independent organisations such as the National
Autistic Society.

Education

Children and young people with ASD often need some special educational support. This
may be in a special school, or in a mainstream school with extra help to manage conflict
and upset feelings, and to get on with other people, for example. Unstructured situations,
such as break and lunch-times, can be very difficult for some children with ASD,
who may be vulnerable to bullying or exploitation, particularly in secondary schools.

The future

Most children and young people with ASD continue to experience similar difficulties
throughout life, although generally they become less severe over time. Getting help
as early as possible for children and young people with ASD can make a real difference.

Additional resources

Social Services can have a role to play in providing practical support and help for
the young person and their family. They can provide help in accessing local services
and resources, such as respite care, and advice on disability allowances. Many families
also value support from their local Autism Parent and Carer Support Group.